City of Hope’s 2017 Rose Parade float will inspire you with these cancer survivors

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Duarte city manager and cancer survivor Darrell George will ride on the City of Hope’s 2017 Rose Parade float along with other cancer survivors. He is pictured at Duarte, Calif. City Hall with photos of previous Rose Parade floats Dec. 12, 2016. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

Linh Quan of Temple City will ride on City of Hope's 2017 Rose Parade float, titled "The Miracle of Science with Soul," on Jan. 2. The breast cancer survivor will join six other patients and their doctors, nurses and support staff. Quan underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, all while her father was also battling cancer but ultimately lost. The 44-year-old has been cancer-free for four years and now wants to give back as much as she can. She hopes that sharing her story may give hope and help someone with their cancer battle. (Photo courtesy of City of Hope)

DUARTE>> In his 13 years as Duarte city manager, Darrell George has gone through the doors of City of Hope many times, for meetings about collaborations and plans between the city and the cancer center.

But two years ago, he went through the doors at the Duarte cancer center for the first time as a patient.

“It’s something that came out of the blue,” said George of his cancer diagnosis.

The 57-year-old doesn’t even remember the last time he took a sick day but a routine physical found a mass and he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He has been in remission for 17 months now.

Now, George will celebrate surviving cancer with six other City of Hope patients and their doctors, nurses and caregivers, aboard City of Hope’s float in the 2017 Rose Parade, themed “Echoes of Success,” on Jan. 2.

This year’s float, titled “The Miracle of Science with Soul,” ‘celebrates the past, present and future successes of City of Hope’s physicians, researchers, scientists, nurses and survivors.

Each patient has their story of a surprising diagnosis, tough treatment and eventually hope and survival. Many contribute their positive outcome to the support they received from family and friends as well as the expertise and caring support from the City of Hope staff.

George admits he first thought the worst of his diagnosis. And it was especially difficult in the beginning, with his wife’s support, telling his three children, especially his high school-age son. Talking to his parents back in his native Boston also brought on some worrying.

“That generation, if you were diagnosed with cancer, you died,” said George, who lives in Torrance. “Every time I talked to my mom she cried. I told her, ‘Ma, you’ve gotta stop crying. They’ve made major advancements in cancer treatment, and we’re going to beat this.’”

Although it took baby steps, George says, he found his strength and hope with his three F’s – friends, family and faith – as well as his doctors.

“Dr. Stephen Forman was so kind to me,” he said of his oncologist. “He was almost like, cheering for me, saying ‘The scans look great. Let’s keep moving forward.’ When you have a doctor that’s so involved in your well-being, it helps you get through this.”

The professionalism and expertise of the staff combined with their personal and emotional care, George said, is what he appreciated the most about his treatment at City of Hope.

Although hesitant at first to talk about his experience with cancer, George said he’s more willing now that he’s at this stage of his life.

“You realize how precious life is,” he said. “You’re just thankful for a lot more things.”

And he’s sure to share some sage words for everyone he meets: “I encourage everyone, especially men, to get a routine physical,” he said, which he credits for catching the mass and getting treatment early.

Another survivor willing to share her story with anyone she meets is Temple City resident Linh Quan.

Cancer was not new to the Vietnam native. She lost her mother to leukemia when she was just 7 years old; her aunt and cousin have been battling with breast cancer for some time; and her father was diagnosed with rectal cancer just months before she got her own breast cancer diagnosis.

Quan was surprised to hear her cancer was not genetic, and by the challenges she would face through chemotherapy.

“I knew the procedure of the cancer (because of my father),” said the 44-year-old. “I didn’t know about the chemo, about getting tired and all of that. I didn’t know how tough of a time I would have.”

Quan said it was really hard at first but she had a great support system in her family, including her husband and teenage son, and her father, even as he went through chemotherapy at the same time as she did.

“And at City of Hope in Pasadena, where I got my treatment, my surgeon was really good; I felt like I was in good hands,” she said. “My oncologist is amazing; she was always encouraging. And the nurses in the chemo department, were very nice. You go in and you’re so tired and didn’t want to smile, but they were always positive and made you smile. Without any of them I wouldn’t be here.”

Despite eventually losing his battle to cancer, her father was always encouraging. Quan said she kept fighting for her father and her family after her father died.

She now wants to share her story, and give as much as she can to help those dealing with cancer now, whether it be advice or time.

“I want people to know they are not the only ones going through what they are going through,” she said. “When I hear of someone with a cancer diagnosis, I give them advice on what I’ve been through, so when it happens to them, they know it’s normal.”

Quan and George feel honored and excited to be chosen to ride on the float.

“I’ll be waving to everyone on behalf of cancer survivors,” said George.

“I hope that people hear my story and what I went through, and it will help whoever is going through cancer like me,” she said. “There is hope; there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Claudia Palma has been covering the San Gabriel Valley and Pasadena area since 2005. She is a contributing editor and writer for the Pasadena Star-News' annual Rose Magazine featuring all things Rose Parade. A longtime San Gabriel Valley resident, she enjoys reading, music and almost anything sci-fi, whenever possible. Her days now are lovingly filled with her high school-sweetheart husband, two strong-willed girls (like their mama), and their cool baby boy. Hablamos español.